Tunisian Revolution and the Middle East

[jpyaks3]

Iran Orders Attacks on Saudi Interests Worldwide

Several grand ayatollahs in Iran have issued a fatwa for Muslims to come to the aid of their Shiite brothers in Bahrain, who they claim are suffering horrific crimes from their government in collaboration with the Saudi armed forces. They further emphasized that the people of Bahrain have every right to demand freedom and their fair share from the state.

Shia-News, a site associated with Ayatollah Mesbah Yazdi (a hard-line Shiite Twelver and an influential figure in the suppression of Iranians during their uprising to protest the fraudulent presidential election of 2009), is registering volunteers to participate in suicide bombings against Saudi interests around the world. Hundreds have already registered. Reports from inside Iran indicate that an alert has gone out to the Revolutionary Guards Quds forces throughout the world to prepare for attacks on Saudi establishments.

....
The ayatollahs who cry foul over the Saudi action in Bahrain have not spoken one word against their own Islamic regime, which is guilty of the rape, torture, and the murder of thousands of Iranian boys and girls for their uprising and demand for freedom and democracy. Human rights groups have reported that Iran, in just one month, executed more than one hundred people. The slaughter continues on a daily basis: the Iranian Supreme Court recently stepped up the executions by “expediting” death sentences.

The proxy war between Iran and Saudi Arabia is just beginning — expect to see many more such conflicts in the Middle East which will expand onto the world stage.
http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/pjm-exc...s-worldwide/2/

Iran is certainly positioning themselves to influence the region same as any major player in any region, however, there is absolutely nothing about the Bahrain protests that suggest that Iran had anything to do with them. Bahrain's royal family and Saudi Arabia are just using that as an excuse to violently put down a peaceful protest that stems from an underprivileged and marginalized part of Bahrain's population. There is certainly a struggle between Iran and Saudi Arabia over some parts however, if you believe that the Bahrain protests were anything other than homegrown and the Bahrain and Saudi families aren't just trying to justify their brutal treatment of the protesters who were peacefully protesting you really don't understand the underlying issues. This is like claiming that the Egyptian protests were simply driven by the Muslim Brotherhood, its an easy out for the regimes because they know a certain segment of the west will jump on that and accept it as fact because they don't understand or want to understand what is actually happening. No one has any proof that the protests are anything other then home grown and its pretty apparent that Iran is agitating but that doesn't mean they have any control whatsoever over whats going on. Thats like saying since the Muslim Brotherhood came out in favor of the Egyptian protests that they were the ones who were behind and controlling everything, it sounds great to people that want an easy answer but its not the truth.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/spy...an_claims.html
Also Reza Kahlili (the author of the article) is kind of a nutjob and has been pretty spectacularly wrong about a lot things, including claiming that Iran "was planning nuclear suicide bombings with “a thousand suitcase bombs spread around Europe and the U.S.”

“This is a messianic regime. There should be no doubt they’re going to commit the most horrendous suicide bombing in human history,” Kahlili said. “They will attack Israel, European capitals and the Persian Gulf region at the same time, then they will hide in a bunker [until a religious prophecy is fulfilled]… and kill the rest of the nonbelievers.”

[The Brave Little Toaster Oven]

not sure what you want...they are already fighting a proxy war in Yemen and Lebanon

I was referring to the fatwa, but these will work. I might have to forward these off to people I work with

[jpyaks3]

not sure what you want...they are already fighting a proxy war in Yemen and Lebanon


on Bahrain
http://www.businessinsider.com/the-p...vs-iran-2011-3

http://www.stratfor.com/analysis/201...c8379cd82052cd

Iran claiming Bahrain as it's territory
http://www.terrorism-info.org.il/mal.../iran_e005.htm

http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=116542
Sunni-Shiite fight threatens widespread impact
Russia, Iran linked on one side, U.S. ally Saudi Arabia on other

Read more: Sunni-Shiite fight threatens widespread impact http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=116542#ixzz1HINOhrW4

See there is the problem, what you quoted all originate from Friedman and his Neo-Con ilk, the Neo-Conservative movement has already shown that they don't have a good grasp on what makes the region tick. They have a very simplified Iran vs. Saudi Arabia view and it simply discounts the real reasons behind these protests.

[twa]

jpyaks...is the story correct or not?

Hillary claims Iran is interfering in Bahrain

http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPol...aspx?id=210564
The US secretary of state told the Senate Appropriations Committee that Tehran is using Hezbollah to communicate with Palestinians, who in turn communicate with counterparts in Egypt. She also explained that Iran is reaching out to opposition movements in Bahrain and are "very much involved" with the opposition in Yemen.

"So either directly or through proxies, they are constantly trying to influence events. They have a very active diplomatic foreign policy outreach," she said.

http://www.jpost.com/International/A...aspx?id=210392

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned Tuesday that Iran was aggressively trying to take advantage of the domestic upheavals across the Arab world, and warned that the United States needed to maintain robust aid and involvement in the region to keep Tehran from succeeding.

Clinton described Iran as working “every single day with as many assets as they can muster, trying to take hold of this legitimate movement for democracy,” in testimony before the US House Foreign Affairs Committee.


or if you don't trust JP
http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/NewsD...storyid=301010

[jpyaks3]

jpyaks...is the story correct or not?

Hillary claims Iran is interfering in Bahrain

http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPol...aspx?id=210564
The US secretary of state told the Senate Appropriations Committee that Tehran is using Hezbollah to communicate with Palestinians, who in turn communicate with counterparts in Egypt. She also explained that Iran is reaching out to opposition movements in Bahrain and are "very much involved" with the opposition in Yemen.

"So either directly or through proxies, they are constantly trying to influence events. They have a very active diplomatic foreign policy outreach," she said.

Which story? I don't think anyone can argue that Iran isn't trying to influence the region, just like Egypt was and will again, just like Israel is, and Syria, and Lebanon, and Iraq, and Saudi Arabia, What I can say is that what is happening in Bahrain is not an Iranian effort to take over, that is simply an easy excuse that allows the Saudi's and Bahrain royal family to kill protesters and still allows the United States an out of sorts. Painting it as Iran vs. Saudi Arabia is a good way to avoid the real conflict, the conflict is the Bahrainian people (specifically the disaffected Shiite population) vs. the royal family. Saudi intervention sets a very dangerous precedent and is morally reprehensible. I think the people like Friedman who paint the region in realist terms and Iran vs. Saudi Arabia miss what is actually going on, this isn't an external movement in Bahrain or Libya or Lebanon, or Syria, or Tunisia or any of these countries instead it is a popular revolt against the autocratic and repressive regimes in the region. This breaks a lot of the realist worldview and its one of the reasons that people have been really slow and confused in response to these protests especially in America, because it fundamentally alters the world view of the people who have been making policy for the last decade or so.

[twa]

I was referring to the fatwa, but these will work. I might have to forward these off to people I work with

You mean like the link to Shia-news?
http://www.shia-news.com/fa/pages/?cid=20367

[The Brave Little Toaster Oven]

You mean like the link to Shia-news?
http://www.shia-news.com/fa/pages/?cid=20367

haha nah, that wont work....I needed something from a reputable source, and I doubt the people I work with can read farsi

[jpyaks3]

I personally think its pretty apparent that the lens through which our policy makers and pundits have been looking at the Middle East has been horribly broken for the past decade or so. Our responses to revolutions and the quick and easy jump to realist thought patterns are just further evidence of this in my mind. Realism is dying and this may be its last stand.

[twa]

I doubt the people I work with can read farsi

You need a more diverse group of co-workers

[visionary]

I personally think its pretty apparent that the lens through which our policy makers and pundits have been looking at the Middle East has been horribly broken for the past decade or so. Our responses to revolutions and the quick and easy jump to realist thought patterns are just further evidence of this in my mind. Realism is dying and this may be its last stand.

It's rather amazing how all these dictators have been trying to solve a new problem with old solutions that no longer work.
And it isn't just them. Much of the world is reeling from the revolutions because they don't fit into what they've believed for decades.
Too many in the world have been too slow to realize that the old ways that worked before, the old alliances, and old beliefs are no longer valid.
In some cases world leaders have been cagey enough to see what's happening and ride the waves, while others still cling to suddenly outdated methods of dealing with things, that now only make matters worse.

I think a lot of people, middle aged and older people in particular don't seem to realize what is happening outside their usual spheres of life as well.
Many also don't quite get the feeling of connection and empathy that goes across country lines on the internet on sites like facebook and twitter.
It's interesting to watch how united people all over the world are on twitter, and then go around and talk to others who don't have a clue what is going on outside their own little bubble of existence.
That isn't to blame anyone, but I think many people don't realize how rapidly the world is changing.

[visionary]

http://english.aljazeera.net/video/a...402237872.html

Plot to undermine Indonesian president
Ex-generals fomenting tensions to weaken 'reformist' leader, Al Jazeera learns.

Religious minorities often find themselves under attack in Indonesia. Experts say these attacks are well planned.

Al Jazeera has discovered that retired generals in the country are secretly backing groups involved in anti-Christian violence. They hope to weaken president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's government, which they feel is too reformist.

Step Vassen reports from Jakarta in this exclusive investigation.

[visionary]

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/mi...113728994.html

Yemeni president offers to quit by year-end
Ali Abdullah Saleh offers to exit by the end of 2011, vowing not to hand power to the military.
Last Modified: 22 Mar 2011 01:21

Yemen's president has offered to step down from his post by the end of the year, a presidential spokesman has said.

Ahmed al-Sufi told the Associated Press news agency on Tuesday that Ali Abdullah Saleh told military leaders and government officials about his decision on Monday night.

Saleh pledged a "constitutional" transfer of power, and also said he would not hand over power to the military.

It is unclear whether Yemen's opposition would accept the offer. A similar proposal was the subject of discussions between Saleh and opposition groups earlier this month. Saleh has already promised not to run for another term when his current term expires in 2013.

Saleh has a history of breaking similar promises: In 2005, he vowed not to run for another term in office, only to run and win another term in 2006.

---------- Post added March-22nd-2011 at 09:44 AM ----------

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/live/midd...-blog-march-22

4:10pm Reuters - A coalition of Yemeni opposition groups reject Saleh's offer an offer to leave office after organising parliamentary elections by January 2012.

"The opposition rejects the offer as the coming hours will be decisive," said Mohammed al-Sabry, spokesman for the main umbrella opposition group.

http://twitter.com/SultanAlQassemi

Watch out for news from Syria today. Al Arabiya reports that Imams called on citizens to rally around the Omari mosque as forces approach. about 1 hour ago via web

http://twitter.com/iyad_elbaghdadi

All eyes on #Syria ASAP. Security forces have surrounded the Omari Mosque in Daraa with protesters inside; fearing the worst. 37 minutes ago via web

[visionary]

CNN on TV moments ago:

The Ministry of the Interior in Cairo is on fire. 7 floors are ablaze and several floors have started to collapse.
A thousand police officers are protesting in front of the building to ask for higher wages.

[visionary]

YEMEN

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/live/midd...-blog-march-22

10:00pm Reuters - Yemen president Ali Abdullah Saleh, invites young people to join what is described as a "transparent and open dialogue".

"President Ali Abdullah Saleh is truly sympathetic with the youth and is interested in their problems and causes," state media reports, citing an official source.

"The president calls the youth to a transparent, sincere and open dialogue."

7:09pm Al Jazeera receives reports of clashes in the southern Yemeni town of Hadida, between members of the presidential guard and a military battalion which defected to support anti-government protesters.

It is believed at least two people have been killed in the fighting.

SYRIA

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/mi...925612161.html

UN calls for Syria probe as hundreds protest
UN human rights chief calls for investigation into weekend crackdown as protesters take to the streets for a fifth day.

Hundreds of protesters have gathered in the southern Syrian towns of Daraa and Nawa as the United Nations' human rights chief called for a probe into a weekend crackdown which left six people dead.

Daraa, the capital of Daraa governate, has been the site of unprecedented protests since Friday, with demonstrators demanding the end of the government of Bashar al-Assad, the president.

"Around 1,000 protesters gathered in and around the Omari mosque shouting anti-regime slogans, amid a heavy security and army presence," an activist in Daraa, who wished to remain anonymous, said.

The activist said the protesters in the town, a traditional home to large tribal families, had formed a human shield around the mosque on Tuesday to prevent security forces from approaching it.

[visionary]

SYRIA

Apparently major **** is hitting the fan in Syria right now!

http://twitter.com/Tharwacolamus

Now in #Deraa, security forces storming Alomari Mosque currently being used as field hospital by protesters, heavy gunfire heard #March15 21 minutes ago via web

Deaths reported in attack on Alomari Mosque in #Deraa, the attack ongoing #March15 #Syria. 19 minutes ago via web

Massacre taking place in Alomari Mosque, many deaths reported. Imams calling ppl from loudspeakers 2 take up arms & come 2 rescue #March15 15 minutes ago via web

Reports of attacks on Alomari Mosque come from eyewitnesses, they are real, not exaggerated, many deaths, spread news #March15 #Deraa #Syria 13 minutes ago via web

In #Deraa, power down, as thousands of people take to the street #March15 #Syria 7 minutes ago via web

---------- Post added March-22nd-2011 at 08:07 PM ----------

http://twitter.com/SyrianJasmine

URGENT!Syrians troops enters the Syrian city of Daraa, and are shooting civilians of all ages!!A massacre is happening right NOW!#Syria 3 minutes ago via web

http://twitter.com/Citoyen_Danton

Other protesters tries to join form the north side of #Daraa to rescue those in the Omary mosque and army stopped them & shot at them #Syria 7 minutes ago via web